Archivist: UCA Built on Graveyard

Remember that story about the tunnels under campus a couple of weeks ago? Well, it seems that there is even more under our feet than we knew. 

Yesterday, Jimmy Bryant, director of UCA's archives and our campus historian, released a YouTube video revealing that UCA is built on top of an unmarked Civil War graveyard. Bryant said he had kept the secret as long as he could bear it. 

"This has been a nightmare," Bryant said on the video. "I tried to tell the administration but nobody would listen. They started calling me Crazy Library Guy. I tried to tell the governor's office but they had never heard of UCA. So, here I am, telling you, whoever will listen. There are graves all over that campus. Probably hundreds of them." 

Bryant said he learned of the graveyard while doing research for his book on the history of the school. The soldiers were killed in the Battle of Toad Suck (1864), a battle mostly forgotten in the annals of history. The skirmish raged for three days in the area between what is now Taco Bell on Prince Street and Farris Field. More than 400 soldiers died. 

"It was one of the great tragedies of the war," Bryant said. "Confederate soldiers killed each for three days." 

Records indicate that 10 or so regiments were camped in the Conway area. Several of the regiments were camped across the line in Pulaski County and had access to alcohol. The troops in Conway County, which was dry even back then, demanded some of the alcohol. Within days, angry drunken soldiers were lining up and shooting each other. 

"Most likely, there are bodies underneath this campus with a gun clinched in one hand and a whiskey bottle in the other," Bryant said. 

Bryant said he made the public announcement because he wants to stop construction on campus. 

There are graves under our feet

"We are desecrating a graveyard," he said. "Have you no decency, man?" 

 UCA President Allen Meadors said he doesn't believe there is a graveyard under the campus. 

"Have you been talking to Crazy Library Guy?" Meadors said. "He's such a kidder. We try our best to keep him in the archives room but he's hard to contain. He roams around like he owns the place. Look, let me give you some advice. Whatever he says, just smile and say, 'That's nice, Jimmy.' You don't want to see him mad." 

Gov. Mike Beebe responded in a written statement. 

"Let me begin by saying how proud Arkansas is of United Chemical Associates in Morrilton. UCA is the kind of company that makes our state unique. If there is, indeed, a graveyard under the factory, we will take appropriate action," he said in the statement. 

Ok. Last April Fool's Day story. Promise.

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